Tractor wheel



G. J. WALKER TRACTOR WHEEL l I me E9, Mi 1,459,190

June 19, 1923.

G. J. WALKER TRACTOR WHEEL Filed March 1s. 1921 2 sheds-sheet 2 Patented .lune 19, V1923.

UNITE@ STATS PATENT FFlce.

GLENN J. WALKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO vMIDW']E`.S'.I.ERN TRACTOR WHEEL CO., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRACTOR WHEEL.

Application med March 18, 1921.

To all wko-m it may concern Be 1t known that I, GLENN J. lVALnnn, a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Detroit. in the county of Vilaynev and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in T ractor 'Wheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to power or driving wheels for self-propelled vehicles, tractors and the like which are generally known as traction wheels and more particularly to such wheels provided with means for increasing their tractive force on the ground. An object of the invention is to provide an automatically operating self cleaning wheel of simple and e'liicient construction and wherein friction, twisting strains and stresses upon the spuds or blades are reduced to a minimum and all working parts protected from dust and dirt and effectually lubricated. A further object is to facilitate the adjustment o-f the operating` mechanism to vary the operation of the spuds or blades to effect such adjustment by power means and during the normal operation of the wheel, if desired.

A further object is to provide a construction which is such as to greatly facilitate the dismounting, replacement or repair of the wheel and the adaptation thereof to different tractor or other motor driven devices, and to provide other new and useful features in the constructionand arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described.

With t-he above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the'matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel illustrative of the invention, with portions broken away, and in section to more clearly disclose the construction;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same with a portion thereof in edge elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail substantially upon the lines X-X of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. et is an enlarged sectional detail of a hub portion of the wheel showing means lfor shifting a spud operating cam, and

Serial No. 453.444.

Fig. 5y is an end elevation of Fig. 4 with portions broken away and in section.

Tractor wheels which are provided with spuds or cleats secured to the rim of the wheel become fouled and not efficient when operated upon soft and muddy ground and their use upon public roads is prohibited. Movable spuds or Ablades which automatically move in andv out through slots in the rim of the wheel, are self cleaning, but difliculty has been encountered in their operation due to dirt getting into the working parts, causing friction and wear and also due to binding of the parts in their bearings caused by the twisting and side strains on the blades. Further, the adjustment 0f the mechanism for operating these blades, has been difficult and slow when it is `desired to change from field to road work,y andit has been impossible to make adjustments durling the operation of the wheel to vary the tractive force of the wheel during use. The several enumerated difliculties and objections have been overcome in the present construction and other advantages have been gained.

by the construction illustrated in the accomis therefore formed by the two rim portions of the two halves of the casting and this rim, for the purpose of strength and rigidity is provided with an inwardly extending flange 4 along each edge. Centrally of the rim at the meeting edges of the two halves ofthe casting are the inwardly extending flanges 5 between the hollow spokes 3 and the two parts of the wheel are secured together with the meeting edges of the rim portions in contact, by means of a series of bolts 6 passing through lopenings in the flanges 5.

The spokes 3 are hollow and are of greater width than thickness in cross section and in the rim 1 opposite the outer end of each hollow spoke is a transverse slot through which Vsurrounding the slot for each blade, is a recess 9 to receive a suitable packing to contact the blade and preventdirt or'watcr from getting into theinterior 'of the hollow spoke through the slot in the rim. A like recess 10 is vprovided in the casting at the inner' end ot' each spoke and surrounding the slot through which the shank or arm 8 of the spoke extends, this recess being also providediwith packing to contact the arm and malte a tight joint to prevent dirt from getting into the casing 2 and valso prevent lubricant from passing from the easingtlirough the slot into the hollow spoke. The several spuds 'or blades therefor have a long bearing and are guided and held in their radial movement in and out of the slots in the rim.

A. suitable hub for the wheel is provided by inserting` a sleeve 11 in the axial opening ofi-the casing2 to turn thereiinand rigidly' secured to this sleeve in any suitable manner, asby a pin 12, is an eccentric 13, the peripheral -surface of the rim 1/1 of which eccentric forms a bearing surface for a series of shoes 15, there being one shoe for each spud or blade and to the inner end of the arm 8 of which blade each shoe is pivotally secured by means of a pivot pin 16 passing through an eye in the end of the arm and through openings iii side walls 17 ot the shoe. rlhe :rim 14 of the eccentric is .of a width to tit i between the side walls 'of the casing 2 Abut confined rwithin a circular raceway, the inner side ot which is'the face of the rim 111 of the eccentric and the outer side of which isficoriiied by the fianges 19 on the rings'lS. These rings 18 lalso form side walls Jfor the channel or raceway in which the blocks slide. The sleeve 11 is designed to lit over to a suitable hub (not shown), said hub being carried by a fixed axle casing or being otherwise supported- The sleeve 11 and eccentric 13 whichis secured thereto are normally 'held against rotation with the wheel, but

lmay be adjusted or turned'relative `to the wheel, as' hereinafter described, to adjust the relationl of the eccentric to the wheel rim.

The eccentric being normally held against rotation, the wheel rotates about it as it travels over the ground, and as the blades are carried by the wheel, they are carried-around the eccentric and thus by their connection with the blocks 15 move these blocks within the guide channel provided therefor which is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

The blades are therefore projected and re-- tracted through the rim ot the wheel as the wheel revolves, the blades traveling radially in and out within their bearings in the hollow spolres.

The moving parts may be thoroughly lu-` bricated by puttinga suitable lubricant iii the casin g 2, the lubricant being permitted to enter the channel in which the blocks slide, by providing suitable openings 20 in the rim of the eccentric and communication between this chamber and the interior of the sleeve 11 may also be provided by means ot openings 21 through the sleeve. The escape of the lubricant `through the ends of the sleeve and the axial opening iii the outer side of the casing 2 opposite the end of the sleeve will 'be prevented by the hub portion of the wheel when inserted iii the sleeve in the usual -nian-r gage the ground, as when running upon..

public roads, the eccentric 13 will be positioned relative to the wheel, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, that isthe large side of the eccentric will be directly above the wheel axle so that the blocks traveling within the guide vchannel about the eccentric will be farthest from the axis of the wheel at the upper side ot the wheel and nearest to said axis at the lower portion of the wheel. The blades which are moved bythese blocks will therefore be retracted at the lower' side of the wheel and extended at the upper side.`

They will therefore not engage the ground and will be in an inactive position, that 1s,

kiie

they willl not ,be operative to increase the i.

traction of the wheel but will be constantly moving in and out through the rim as thev wheel revolves. In order to cause the blades to project through the rim at the lower side of the wheel and thus become active in increasing its traction` the eccentric is ad justed or turned relative to the wheel and when so' adjusted that its large sideis directly below the axis of rotation ofy the wheel, the blades will be projected to their full extent where the wheel contacts the as these blades are constantly projected and retracted as the wheel turns,'they will clear themselves of the mud which may adhere to the rim vof the'` wheel and would otherwise pack in between the blades. and therefore these blades are always effective and the wheel will'never be fouled to such an extent that it will` slip andprevent the machine from pulling out of the mud under its yown power. Should it be desirable to have the bladespartially effective lin increasing trac tion, as when the ground inthe field is comparativelydry or hard, the eccentric may be adjusted to cause the blades to vbe 'projected just the desired distance at the lower side of the wheel.

To so ad.. ust or'turn the eccentricr'elative to the wheel, power means is provided for effecting `such adjustment, and this power means isof such arrangement `that it may be made active during the travel `of the wheel and, therefore, the operator may at any time and while thetract'orfis in motion change `the position of the eccentric and thus change ythe movement'f--of the blades.y He may' thereforein passing'from a field to the high road, `causefthev blades to be retracted .and become inoperative without stopping the machine, or he may change, at will, ,the` effectivenessof `the blades at any time to suit the conditions of the ground over which he yis traveling.

' The power means employed lfor vadjusting the eccentriccomprises, as best illustrated in Figs. and 5, a pair'of rings 23 andQd sleeved upon the inner end. of the sleeve 11 which projects from the'inner side of the axial opening in the wheel casing 2, the ring 23 being free tol turn upony the sleeve and connected' to the wall ofthe wheel casing in any suitable [manner to turn therewith, or thisy ring` may be formedvasan integral part' of the 'casing-wall iffoundv del sirable. The ring 24 isf'connected to the sleeve in any suitable manner as by aA ykey 25 engaged in a key seat'26 in `theisleeve anda like seat in the ring.l This ring is therefore rotatable with the sleeve.V The rings 23 and124l arel spaced apart andy their confronting facesfare oppositely beveled or inclined inwardly in divergentv relation.

Between these opposed faces ofthe rings is a series of friction members or shoes527 which"l are 'wedge shaped in cross section to wedge betweenthe-.opposedsurface ofthe "ringswhen tliese shoes Aarey moved radially` outward. Each shoe is normally held pressed outwardly into firm frictionaleiigagement i withl the opposed "friction surfaces( of the rings 23and 24, by flat-springs28 interposed between'the shoes and-"the sleeve 11.- Thesefrictionshoes are therefore nor-'- inally heldby thespi'ings 28 tofrictionally' 70 connect the rings '23 and "24" so ythattliey will turn together, and'l asthe4 ring v2Zl1is`connectedl to the sleeveutotur'ii therewith, :said sleeve will be turned androtateithe eccentric 13 wheneverithe shoes 27 arepermittedf'tov 7'5 move outwardly intoy fr-ictional, engagement with the rings andy frictionally connect them.r `r E vi To hold `theseshoes'pressedinwardly against vthe action of their springs', andthus 80 disconnect the rings 23 and 24, a vbrake band j 2Q is provided which bandA encircles'thel ringV 24 and also rextends over `the several shoes to press the shoes inwardly-i when the band is contracted into engagement with the 35. j

ring -lVhen so contracted, theband lnot only holds the .shoes out of-frictional eii.- gagement but also holds the ring 24C against turningand `therefore gholds the' sleever'll and eccentric 13 against' turning.;v l 1 1 The bra-keband v29 is carried,l by a suitable bracket() which is attached-.to aiiXedv nonf rotatable part of the. `tractor,such as the axle housingindicated at '31 in the drawing'.

Thisl bracket maybe in thepfornif-ofK a ring 95 encircling the end ofthe anle'housingand rigidly secured theretov` byfnieans vof a bolt @2, said brackethaving a laterally ,project-l ing arm- 33 `provided.with an opening 34 through which agrodf` 35 extends,saidrod *T1100 passing through an eye `36 ,secur-edfto; one end of they brake-bandandf atly its opposite end this rod is pivotally attached-,'-asat 37, to an operating lever 38 intermediate the ends thereof., said lever=being pivotally i105 attachedtoyan eye 39' .on y, the `other endA of the brake `band and-,to the louter, vor 4,upper Aend' of which isattached a, rod 40j: adapted to-leadto a' footpedal (not shown) orfother convenient means for exerting a pull upon E#1110 the rod. Sleeved upon rthe rod between the -bracket arm 83A and ltheleye. 36 ,is a coiled spring 4l which normally operates to hold the brake:bandgeirjoanded.` v Atpullupon the rod 4G willinove the endsvof ,the brake. band v1%15 toward each lother and vcontract it .into `.close frictional ,engagement with thet ring2.fi,at the Vsame time cominginto contact withjthe outer sides` `of rthe shoes 2.7.., andpressing them` inward, thus brealringthe `frictionalT1120 connection between the rings y. l23 and,` v2st.

When thel .operator ,desires yto ,adjust they eccentricl, itQLis only'necessary-for himjlto, release-.the brake band 29.l This will 4.release the clutch slices 27 andv tat the*'san-iet,time't125 f release 4the ring A frictional yconnection f lbetween the ,rotatingwheel oncasing 2and the `sleevellwhich. lcarries thev eccentric 21.3- is. thereby .effected at i the. same time the l ring 24tland sleeve yandcecentric arereleased'tf130 I shoes and vwhen properly adjusted is held by the lbrake' band so that the rotative motion of the whe-el in traveling over the lground Will be imparted to the sleeve 1l' and lturn the eccentric to the desired position.

When the eccentric has reached the posi-4 tion to project the blades to the vdesired eX- tent and in the direction desired,the brake j band lWill again lbe set" or contracted by the operator,thus pressing the clutchshoes `27 inwardly and coming in. frictional contact With the ring 24, holding said ring and the sleeve 11 on which the eccentricis mounted firmly against rotation and in the desired position to which it has been adjusted.

1 yThe ring 24 being sleeved upon the end of the sleeve l1 and connected to said sleeve to turn therewith by means ofthe key 25,

is -f-ree to move or'to be adjusted longitudinally of the sleeve for' the purpose of moving it 'toward or from the `rring 23 to- Compensate `for any Wear Which may occur of the contact faces of the shoes 27, and to so adjust andv hold the ring 24 an adjusting ring`42 has `ascreivthreaded engagement with the end of the'sleeve 11 and a lock Washerv or ring` 481is interposed between the ends of the ring 24 and the adjusting ring 42', lthe locking'washer being provided with *a tongue 44 to engage the key slot 26 and alsoy being provided vvith lugsl-45` on its l"periphery which may be'bent into engagement with suitable notches in the periphery ofthe ring 42. The-ring v42 'may therefore be turned to 'adjust the ring 24 toward the by turning one or more of t-helugs 45 ofthe locking Washer into engagement With the notchesv on the ring'.` n v f Obviously changes may bemade in the construction' and arrangement of parts Within the scope of the appended claims v'lwithoutdeparting from the'spirit of this r 1,-A traction power is applied-to a member for driving. *the` Wheel and wherein said Wheel is provided `with projectabl@ and retractable .traicvinvention and I'do n 'ot therefore limit myv4self tothe shown.l

particular form or arrangement `VV'hat I claim iszdriving 'Wheel wherein tion members, fmeans for projectingsaid `jniembers, and means for operatively con- 4necting and disconnecting saidprojecting meansandsaid member to which driving 'power is applied, whereby said projecting 'means-is adjustedfto vary the degree of projection of saidl traction members by the.

powerapplied yto turn the Wheel, andsimultaneously with the driven turningjmovement of saidwvheel;v

the Wheel for adjusting said moving means 2.In `a traction Wheel, thecombination with movable tractionmembers, of means for moving` said traction :members and' means operated by `a` turningmovementof.

ing openings, a plurality of traction members slicl'able through said openings, said Wheel being provided With bearings for said traction members and. Within. Which said tract-ion members are guided to move radially of the wheel and held. againstlateral 1no=vement, means adjacent the hub of the wheel for operating said-tractiony members, said-means including a guideWay and-miembers movable insaid guideWay and lcomprising-,a series of blocks Yconnected to the inner ends of said traction members. f

5. A traction Wheel as characterized in claim 4, and wherein said eccentric guide- Way includes portions to engage the inner; yand outer sides of said members Which' are slidable therein and connected to the inner ends oif'said tractionmembers Where-bythe traction members are positivelymoved yin both in and out movements and wherein `said members in said guidevvay comprise ay series of separate blocks, one for each. traction member, n pivotally `connected to' the inner end-sof, saidv traction members,

6. In a traction Wheel, the combination with projectable and retractable traction members and means for operating said mesmbers including `an eccentric,`oi` means for connecting said eccentric to the Wheel to turnV therenfithfor thel purpose of adjusting j said eccentric.' and means for holding said eccentric in thevposition to which it is adjusted.v1 A

7. A traction Wheel-as characterized in "claim 6, and wherein means -forco'nnccting the eccentric to the Wheel includes a clutch.

8. A. traction Wheel as characterized in claim 6, and wherein the means for. connecting the eccentric tothe Wheel, and themeans `for holding the eccentric vin adjustedposition are simultaneously operative. j t

91A; traction Wheel asv characterized in claim 6, yand wherein the means, for connecting the eccentric" to the Wheel and means for which it is adjusted aresimnltaneously opto beoperated at a distance.

10. Atraction wheel as characterized in erated manually `operable means adapted claim 6, andwvherein the meansforconnecting the eccentric to 'the' wheelfincludes a clutch, and' the means for holding theeccentric in adjusted position comprises a brake band'arrange-d to operate the clutch upon thel tightening of the-,brake band 'andy to reholding said. eccentric.k in the .position `to lease the clutch and make the same effective When the brake band is released.

1l. In a traction Wheel, the combination of a series of radially movable traction.

members, a normally fixed eccentric guide- Way, means on the ends of the traction members engaging said guideway, a friction clutch for connecting the eccentric member to the Wheel, a brake band for holding the eccentric member against rotation and for operating the friction clutch and lever mechanism manually operable at a distance 'for operating said brake band.

12. In a traction Wheel, the combination of a body comprising a rim having openings and a central casing, a series of traction members movable radially of the Wheel through said openings in the rim with their inner ends Within the casing, an eccentric in the casing having an eccentric guideway, a plurality of separate blocks slida-ble in the guideway and pivotally attached to the inner ends of the traction members, a sleeve upon which the eccentric is mounted, a clutch for connecting the sleeve to the Wheel body to turn therewith, means for holding' the sleeve aga-inst turning movement, and

means for manually operating said holding lmeans and said clutch.

13. In a traction Wheel, the.v combination of a body divided vertically on a central` plane of the rim of the body into twoI parts, said body comprising a rim portion and a central casing with hollow spokes connectv their inner ends Within the cas-ing, said spokes providing bearings for said blades to guide the samel radially of the Wheel and prevent lateral ino-vement of the blades, an eccentric Within the casing providing an eccentric guidevvay, a plurality of blocks slidable in the guidevvay and pivotally connected to the inner ends of the blades, and means for adjusting the position of the eccentric relative to the Wheel and holding the same in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GLENN J. WALKER. Witnesses rARTHUR MINNICK, LEWIS E. vFLANDERS. 

